RNaseS RNaseB

Ribonuclease Derivatives
Derivatives of RNase A have also been discovered where the enzyme exists in two fragments created by protease cleavage (Ribonuclease S) and where the enzyme is glycosylated at position 34 (Ribonuclease B).

Introduction to Ribonuclease S
RNase S is RNase A treated with subtilisin, which cleaves a single peptide bond. Consequently, Ribonuclease S consists of two fragments of bovine Ribonuclease A in a peptide-protein complex: S peptide (amino acids 1-20) and S protein (amino acids 21-124). RNase S was the third enzyme and fourth protein ever cystallized and three-dimensional structure determined. As such, biological work on RNase S helped scientists determine the first 3-dimensional structure of a protein-nucleic acid complex. Additionally, RNase S provided one of the first demonstrations of a crystalline enzyme acting as an active catalyst. Investigations of RNase S have also led to many technological advancements, including substrate leash amplification, fusion protein systems, and protein ubiquitination. RNase S has been studied to reveal mechanisms of protein folding by coupling folding and association. Studies of RNase S has lead to greater interest in the investigation of RNase A and its role in biological systems, and has also lead to a greater knowledge of the correlation between protein folding and enzyme activity.

Structure and Biology of RNase S




RNase A and RNase S have very similar structures except for a few key areas, one being the cleavage site (residues 16-23). Decreased order in these amino acids is seen in RNase S. The cleavage site on RNase A is located between residues Ala 20 and Ser 21. Upon cleavage, the fragments S peptide and S protein are created, giving RNase S its unique structure. S Peptide consists of residues 1-20, and is largely responsible for proper folding. S protein is comprised of residues 21-124. Additionally, RNase A and RNase S have many conserved structural components, as they are essentially the same protein. Glutamine 60 is highly conserved structurally between RNase S and RNase A, as well as in many different species, demonstrating its importance. Glu 60 is also interesting, because it is the only residue in an unfavorable position (Φ= -100, ψ= -130) as defined in the Ramachandran plot.

The active site of RNase S consists of residues His 12, Lys 41, Val 43, Asn 44, Thr 45, His 119, Phe 120, Asp 121, and Ser 123. His 12 is the only residue in the active site that is located on the S peptide fragment. Lys 41 and His 119 are also crucial to the functioning of RNase S. Interestingly, both catalytic Histidines perform the same function, even though they are located on different fragments. Residues 1, 15-20, 21-23, and 124 could be removed without serious consequence to the structure or activity of RNase S. Residue 124 could also be removed from RNase A without compromising the structure.

Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions play a major role in the structure of RNase S. There are 84 water molecules present, with 8 of these specifically connecting S peptide and S protein. Some of these water molecules are also conserved throughout all RNase derivatives. Hydrophobic interactions between residues Phe 8, Met 13, His 12, Ala 4 are essential in holding the S Peptide in place. In addition to these residues, Asp 14 is also important in peptide-protein binding. In the picture, it appears that the protein and peptide are not connected; this is because the bond cleavage between residues 20 and 21 of RNase A has already occurred. Additionally RNase S has a rigid hydrophobic core; one-third of the surface of the core is made up of the S peptide. The surrounding loops have more flexibility.

Introduction to Ribonuclease B
Ribonuclease B (RNase B) is a form of the enzyme RNase A that has an added glycoprotein with N-linked carbohydrates at Asn-34, which means that the carbohydrate is attached at the nitrogen of the Aspargine-34 side chain. This added sugar chain can aid in the folding of the protein as well as in cell to cell signaling. Glycoproteins also play an important role in tumor formation because it has been found that N-linked glycans recognized by the CD337 receptor on "natural killer cells" are mutated in tumor cells, stopping their death. Other than the attachment of the polysaccharide, RNase B is structurally the same as RNase A, but the attachment allows for additional catalytic activity. This small change allows RNase B to hydrolyze double-stranded RNA at ionic strengths where RNase A has no activity, showing that small changes in the active sites of very similar molecules can lead to new roles and activities. (Return to original scene)

Structure and Biology of RNase B




Crystallization of RNase A and RNase B has shown that these two enzymes are identical in their primary structure and amino acid makeup; however, RNase B has a single glycosylation at the <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Rbb_basic/18' target = '1' >Asn-34 site that differentiates RNase B from RNase A. RNase B has from five to nine mannose residues attached which can create a variance within RNase B molecules. This glycosylation increases the kinetic stability of the RNase B by 3 kJ/mol. This addition to RNase B, however, does not significantly change the protein conformation from RNase A.

Slight differences include changes in crystal packing, as the RNase B crystals have two slightly asymmetrical units. The crystals are <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Rbb_basic/1' target='1rbb' target = '1'>dimeric (shown above) with two separate molecules, <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Rbb_basic/15' target='1rbb'>I and <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Rbb_basic/14' target='1rbb'>II, which are linked by a salt bridge at Asp-121 and Arg-85. This linkage determines the orientation of the two molecules in relation to one another. Not only does a salt bridge link this dimer-type molecule, but other ions also interact via cross-linkage to stabilize the structure.

The crystallization of RNase B, in complex with sequence DNA, provided the structure of the active site when bound to nucleic acids. The active site, composed of <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Secondary_structure/15' target='1rbj'>His-12, Lys-41 and His-119 and found in both molecules I and II of RNase B, is very similar to the active site of RNase A. A difference between RNase A and RNase B is <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Rbb_basic/19' target='1rbj'>residues 15-23, which are very flexible and can open up or close off the active site. Molecules I and II are slightly asymmetrical, and the most noticeable difference between the two is the position of the <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Secondary_structure/16'>Lys-66. This residue, which is present in both molecules, is much closer to the active site in molecule II. This is important because ions bind to Lys-66, like the DNA, making them accessible to the active site. While the crystalline packing of molecules I and II differ slightly, their active sites bind substrate in the same manner. Even though the crystallization of the structure has been successful, it has not been an aid to providing the mechanism by which RNase B has the catalytic activity to hydrolyze double stranded RNA. . <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_196/Secondary_structure/13' target='1rbj'>(Return to original scene)

Additional Proteopedia Pages about RNase A

 * RNase A
 * RNase A oligomers
 * RNase A NMR
 * RNase S and RNase B
 * RNase A Nobel Prizes

External Resources

 * Wikipedia article on RNase A


 * RNase S on PDB


 * RNase A on PDB


 * RNase B on PDB (1RBJ)


 * RNase B on PDB (1RBB)


 * Ribonuclease on Proteopedia

Student Contributors

 * Melanie Clark


 * Ashton Chaffee


 * Carissa Fuller and Emily Fisher